Subscribe to BTG via Email

Subscribe

DjPaulT

Disclaimer

The contents of this blog are free and for promotional use only. Please support the artist by purchasing their music, merchandise, and attending their concerts. Some of the information on this blog is collected from music related pages and websites. (Discogs, Wiki, Allmusic, etc.)

Hipsway were a Scottish synth-pop band formed in Glasgow in 1984 by ex-Altered Images guitarist Johnny McElhone on bass, and featuring Grahame Skinner (vocals), Pim Jones (guitar) and Harry Travers (drums). Skinner and Travers had been members of the band Kites with Paul McGrath and Ian McGreevy before Hipsway formed. Their music was characterized by Skinner’s deep vocals and Jones’ tight guitar playing. They were quickly signed up by Mercury Records and by 1985 had released their first, eponymously-titled album. The album was a moderate success in the UK Albums Chart; while the single, “The Honeythief”, made #17 in the UK Singles Chart, and also reached the Top 20 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In one of my less than favourite record shops (which was aimed more @ Dj’s). I was told that this record ‘charted’ in the uk initially because they had used the same order number as a ‘Dire Straits’ record. Can anyone confirm or deny?

Just wondered – Like in another shop I got told how ‘Halo James’ had ‘helped’ change the rules for the charts. One of there songs had 18 different ‘variants’ (with a poster, with a badge etc. etc.) talk about overkill. LOL

Yes Adam, that is definitely true…until then 1990, all formats counted to total sales, but Halo James’ ten different formats of Could’ve Told You So changed the rules.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood must be glad they had their hits in 1984!!!

Thanks for another high class rip of a common 12″ we share, Paul! I love the raw almost sleazy vocals and instrumentation of the band. Still can’t believe that sinewy vocals came from that angelic face!

Johnny McElhone made it three out of three. His next band post-Hipsway is Texas, one of the biggest-selling UK bands of the late 90s! So in fact, Hipsway is the least successful of his three ventures.

Nonetheless, Hipsway was the critics’ darling in the mid 80s. But really a shame it didn’t translate into chart success. The Honeythief is their sole proper hit (all other singles failed to crack the Top 50) and it peaked at #17 and not #7 (was it near bedtime when you did the write-up, Paul? lol!)

(lol) Ric nope it wasn’t bed time but I was in a rush to get this posted and I knew I had made a mistake somewhere I actually did have #17 typed on a note pad but copied it incorrectly so it’s just a typo. Thank you for letting me know so I can fix it 🙂 And your right his voice is sinful and his face is angelic 🙂

Skinner was also in The Jazzateers after Paul Quinn left. Talking of Paul Quinn & The Jazzateers I don’t suppose you have those Bourgie Bourgie 12inches do you? A couple of fine singles with amazing extended mixes (of both A and B sides). My vinyl rips are quite crackly as I don’t have a great deck 🙁

Right here is the right site for anyone who really wants to understand this topic.
You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa).
You certainly put a brand new spin on a subject
that’s been written about for many years. Wonderful stuff, just great!